[1]After rampant speculation Friday that all-pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha was headed for either the New York Jets or Dallas Cowboys, a third team intercepted him. It wasn’t the Houston Texans nor was it the San Francisco 49ers just across the Bay from his former Oakland home. The Philadelphia Eagles swooped in to sign Asomugha to a five-year $60 million deal right after the free-agent market officially opened at 6 p.m. ET Friday evening.

The news came on the heels of the Arizona Cardinals trade which brought back Pro Bowl CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as part of the Kevin Kolb deal (a second round pick [2]was included). Eagles officials remained tight-lipped about Asomugha indicating that they were thrilled to get “DRC” in a fair and balanced deal for Kolb. Eagles officials also remained tight-lipped about the potential holdout of disgruntled CB Asante Samuel, who wasn’t officially a holdout until Friday afternoon’s practice.

[4]Bucking their own trend, the Eagles signed Asomugha to a 5-year deal. This is indicative of the special talent he is, a Pro Bowler the past three years and first-team all-pro twice in that period. Santana Moss, Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are not likely to be the least bit happy about Asomugha’s transition to the NFC East – especially with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie patrolling the “weaker” side of the defensive backfield.

[5]Nnamdi Asomugha was recently ranked the 18th-best player by his peers in NFL Network’s The Top 100 Players of 2011[6]; the Jets’ Darrelle Revis was the only corner ranked higher at No. 8. Many thought was Revis on the verge of being Asomugha’s teammate this week. Rumor had circulated that Asomugha wanted to take advantage of the proximity of Broadway and Madison Avenue and all that the New York market offers. The Cardinals also entered the Asomugha bidding late according to FOXSports and other sources. Then again, what better stage could there be than 17 weeks of NFL exposure followed by the postseason and Super Bowl?

[7]The addition of Asomugha casts the future of Asante Samuel, Philly’s other Pro Bowl corner, into doubt. More eyebrows are certain to be raised as well given Eagles Pro Bowl WR DeSean Jackson is also holding out of camp, unhappy with the $565,000 he’s due to make in the final year of his rookie deal.

[8]Jackson did offer a message of support to Asomugha (both are former Cal Bears) via Twitter: “CONGRATS TO MY BIG BRO 21 NNAMBI ASOMUGHA FOR BECOMING A EAGLE!!” As for speculation surrounding Jackson’s unsettled situation or other issues the team could be facing in the coming days, the Eagles were content to bask in today’s haul. It remains far more likely that the Eagles will find the funds to sign Jackson than Samuel.

“All those questions are for another day,” said Eagles GM Howie Roseman on Friday night.